Michael Vaughan
Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

Ultimately it's about winning. I am sick and tired of hearing about brands. I just want a winning cricket team. You brand changes throughout the week of a Test match. This Test team from England have given us a great ride, it's been fun, but they don't win. English cricket has to be brutally honest with itself.

Somewhere up at the hiearchy of the ECB they have got to realise it's unacceptable to keep losing Test matches and losing series.

In my eyes I can't see what's going to change unless you change a bit of the backroom, a bit of the management and we need the reset to start now. They've tried the reset after the Ashes and it hasn't worked. They have to rebuild this England Test team into something that is going to be competitive.

If you set the goal of being the number one Test team in the world you go and get the best of the best. At the moment I don't think we have the best of the best.

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England head coach Brendon McCullum, speaking to TMS: "I don't know if surprised would be the word [about Stokes' decision to retire]. Stokes and I have been speaking a lot over the last couple of weeks and I'm not going to go into those conversations but when he tapped me on the shoulder yesterday morning when we got to the ground and said, 'Baz, I'm done,' my first reaction was to talk him down and to try and slow things down. But he had made up his mind and it became pretty obvious that he was keen to step away.

"From there it turned to just a bit sad really. Sad because for four years we've worked intimately together and we've been through a lot together. We started this journey and we tried to build and shape what we think is the right way forward for this cricket team and to try and help English cricket. It became obvious it hadn't been easy on Stokes, it's a long time to captain an international cricket team and the England team in particular and the scrutiny and the questions that come with it.

"I'd rather look back on the fondness of our time together rather than on anything else. He was an inspiration to work with. I call him a good friend and wish him all the best for the future."

Sir Alastair Cook
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

The bond between the captain and coach, quite clearly something has definitely happened. When not everything is aligned you see results on the cricket field which show that. To be consistent, and get results, everything had to be aligned.

Not just aligned for a short period of time but a long time. It takes time to build the culture you need, the side you need and the players to fit into that. That's the questions that need to be answered. They made the big decision after the Ashes and the results haven't improved

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England's Joe Root speaking to Sky Sports: "I've played cricket with and against Ben Stokes since I was 12 years old. He taught me my first swear word, spraying me. It's going to be weird not seeing him around. I don't think many players have changed the game like he has, the influence in the dressing room, people watching in the crowd, in all facets of the game. It's incredible what he's done over such a long period of time."

On being told of Stokes' retirement: "I just tried to listen, be as a good as mate as I can. I can only speak as a captain, you understand the emotions that come with it. It's such an amazing thing to get an opportunity to do, and while it can be the right thing to step away from it, it's hard to give up. I can understand why it's been a tricky situation for him. You want to enjoy your cricket and play it for the right reasons, and if you're not in a space to do that then it's probably time to go. The dressing room is going to miss him as a leader, as such a influential player and as a mate too."

On the Stokes wicket shortly after the retirement announcement: "It was the most Ben Strokes thing ever. I didn't think there's been any other player who has created moments like he has. It was really quite special. Not many players get the opportunity to leave on their own terms, for him to have that is really special."

On captaining Stokes: "You can't get the ball out his hand, he's a nightmare. You look back at 2019, that innings at Headingley, everyone talks about it, but the bowling spell beforehand was just as important."

On whether he could captain against Pakistan: "I'm going to enjoy celebrating today and Ben's career and focus purely on that. I think today should be about him and everything he's achieved for English cricket. Like Broady had at The Oval, Cooky had it too, everything they've done for their country, a lot of sacrifices too. To have that to look back on is really special."

Michael Vaughan
Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

Nothing seems to have changed in the smartness required for Test match cricket. I've seen enough to suggest the coaching team are not getting the maximum out of this team. We saw that last night. It's been dumb cricket for too long.

We talked about the reset and the reset didn't happen in terms of any changes. I just can't see how the team moves forward without a change because the style of cricket required to be the best in the world is not what we saw last. It's not what we saw in Australia, against India at The Oval or in the last few years.

If England want to be the best team in the world, I believe there are better coaches out there to maximise more out of this team.

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England captain Ben Stokes on best memories: "I look back at some of the things I've been involved with on the field and been able to play with some of the best players England have ever produced. I've been able to share some pretty special memories with those people.

"I know that I've done some decent things on the field but I look at playing with people who have achieved great things on the field. I'm lucky that I've been able to see what Joe Root has been able to do as a player and a captain, he's still going.

"Stuart, Broad, James Anderson, Alastair Cook - all these greats of the game. Then there are people I've played against, that I've seen do amazing things out of the field.

"I feel lucky. It's been some ride and something I'll always be able to look back on with fond memories."

Michael Vaughan
Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

There's now a great opportunity for a lot of young players now. An opportunity for the team to move on without Ben Stokes. They will miss not just his game but his mentality.

I think he has been thinking for a while. When you have done it for such a long period time and you given English cricket so much. Then you're at the vulnerability stage, which he was at, when you need your whole team to back you, i.e. the whole of the ECB, and they didn't, I would say that's the final nail in the coffin.

England captain Ben Stokes at the post-match presentation, on why he's retired now: "I think I explained that in as much as I could yesterday.

"There might be a few questions that people have but I hope it can be respected that, at the end of the day, the most important person in making this decision is myself. I didn't take the decision lightly or rush into it.

"I had a number of people who I trust to talk to about these things, quite personal things. I tried throughout this whole week to see if I could get myself through and see about going beyond this week but it wasn't meant to be.

"I'm very pleased with everything that I've been able to do across my career. It is sad that this is no longer going to be something that I get to do.

"There's some things that I will miss and some things I will quite happily say that I don't have to worry about anymore.

"There's quite a lot of emotion obviously, but I'm very proud of what I've done. I'm happy that I feel I've been able to contribute some happiness to fans that support us everywhere we go in the world."

On why the announcement came during the match: "I told a few people who I'm close with in the team the night before and then told the team in the morning.

"The comms team we've got here, along with my management Michael Lumb and Neil Fairbrother, I just said 'I've got quite a lot to focus on these last two days so you come up with a plan and we'll just go with it.'

"I would have to take a wicket after it is made public, wouldn't I?! I look at the way the last two and a half weeks have unfolded has been... interesting, is probably the best way to put it.

"Again, I can probably look back and laugh at their being some controversy around my last game for England but you could relate that to me as a player throughout - a little bit hit and miss here and there.

"Here, something pretty simple ended up being a bit complicated. But I've thoroughly enjoyed every time I've walked out on the field and I will look back with fond memories, even if there has been a bit of controversy here and there."

Ashwanth R Kavuluri
CricViz analyst

Ben Duckett’s 113 in the third Test is England’s only century in this series, compared to five hundreds by the New Zealand batters.

The last time England had just one century in a series was 16 series ago, during their tour of Australia in the 2021-22 series.

Overall team batting in this series:

• New Zealand: 27.2 avg, 3.4 run rate, five 100s, four 50s
• England: 22.1 avg, 3.5 run rate, one 100, nine 50s

Steven Finn
Former England fast bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

You can always tell when you look at someone in the eyes and when Ben Stokes answered that question [about the Ashes next summer] it can tell you if there was a bit of a glint there. By the way that he spoke, and what he said there, it makes me believe me even more that its truly the end.

England captain Ben Stokes speaking at the post-match presentation: "It's been a nice couple of days in terms of that [reception from the crowd]. It would've been nice for it to end differently in terms of the result with the way this Test match has gone, an incredibly hard-fought game by both teams.

"Being exposed to some tricky conditions over the first few days with the weather and that contributing to the pitch playing a little bit differently play by day. That's the great thing about Test cricket, ever day is going to be the different to the one before.

"Credit to New Zealand and the way that they operated throughout this game, especially Daryl [Mitchell] and Rachin [Ravindra] getting their team comfortably ahead, it was always going to be difficult for us to chase down that total.

"It's been a game that - and it feels strange to say - ending with a game where you have to go all the way to the end, I wouldn't have it any other way. The only thing I would change is for us to be on the other side of the result.

"You can't always have things your way. They would have been the perfect end. But the world isn't perfect and that's the one thing I'll be sad about, the result in my last game."

Michael Vaughan
Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

I think when you are the captain of England you have to have more string to your bow than just playing.

Everyone is a human being. Ben Stokes is as tough as anyone to wear the three lions, but he's reached a point where he's had enough.

New Zealand captain Tom Latham: "Really special moment. This is what you want to work towards. It's been a whole squad effort, sticking to a style we can be proud of. Really pleasing.

"We did a lot of good things at Lord's, a tricky surface, things could have been different. At the Oval we played our brand, a few guys stuck their hands up at key moments.

"We started really well in day one, it was a really partnership at the top. What we did on the morning of day three, took some key wickets, set the tone. Daryl settling the nerves and putting on a key partnership. No other guy that I'd rather have there. We were put under pressure last night with something we weren't really expecting, but we came and got our rewards today.

"To get those four wickets last night was really important. Some key moments with run-outs and catches."

Image source, Getty Images

More from Ben Stokes to Test Match Special's Jonathan Agnew on the timing of his decision to quit: "I accept people might be asking questions. But end of the day it's a decision I have taken. I hope people can respect that, but I have understanding people might be scratching heads wondering why and there could be many reasons. I think the most important reason, and one people can respect, is I I am taking this decision because I feel it's the best thing for me."

On whether the event of the last few weeks have had anything to do with it: " There has been a series of unfortunate events happen which I'm sure over the next few weeks you will be able to decompress and say 'has it contributed? Maybe?' But there's an overriding factor over the last few months that everything I have done over a long period of time has taken it's toll. Being in this role as captain - as good as it, as exciting as it and as a bigger honour as it is - there is some negative effects to doing it. I guess that's the unfortunate side people don't always get to see. As good as it is there's some moments that test you and sometimes you feel like you have just had enough of it."

On whether he will really just watch the Ashes from the sofa next summer: "I don't know how we have gone from yesterday to asking me about the Ashes next year! Over the next year I am not sure...you know...physically I won't be able to be in shape rocking up there. [Playing for Duham] is a little different.

"People cam say they what they want to so. I am content with everything right now. Have an opinion about they want to do. I am incredibly content with everything right now. It's a decision you don't take lightly. It has taken a lot of time. I've spoken to a lot of people close to me. I am done, mate. And I am very happy. I think it would be nice for people to understand that, for everything that has gone the past few weeks, let's not focus on that too much. I have come out, I've said it, and I'm happy and hopefully people understand."

New Zealand player of the series, Nathan Smith: "It's always nice to have the ball in your hand when you've got a Test match to win.

"I pride myself in being able to adapt to whatever is there, be it with the new ball or old ball. It's a shame that we got struck by injuries but it shows the strength of our squad that we could call on guys from the sidelines to come in and do a really good job.

"In England, the ball does get soft so we have to bring the stumps in a little bit more. We talk about being relentless with our line and length.

"I think Tm Blundell really changed the series by coming up to the stumps at the Oval."

Jofra Archer, England player of the series: "Honestly, it's been really good, I've put a lot of work in, to be rewarded - I still don't know how I got this. All of the lads have been putting shifts in.

"Sometimes you're going to have aches and pains but you've got to go through it. You've got guys at the other end who will have trained as much as you, so you've got to go through it. The hardest thing is drifting in the field, you can be out there a day and half, you've got to be mentally strong."

On Ben Stokes' retirement: "Not just as a captain, but as a friend. Someone you can always go to, someone you can bounce ideas off. It's going to be a big miss.

"I think the hardest part is imagining the changing room without him. Every game I've played he's been there. Him being gone, I don't want to look forward to it, we don't have a choice now but it's going to take some getting used to."

Player of the match Daryl Mitchell: "This is very special for our group. We came over with the goal of the winning the series. It's really cool. Really proud of every single squad member who at some stage who has stepped up.

"I was really pleased with how calm we were with that loss [at Lord's]. We went to business at The Oval and here, different pitches.

"We spoke about partnerships were really crucial for us. Rachin is an amazing talent with a great skill set. It got us to a total to defend. We put a lot of work in our fielding, the two run-outs today should guys are engaged and showing everything they've got."

Image source, Getty Images

More from outgoing England captain Ben Stokes to Test Match Special: "I will miss everything to do with this. I guess that's part of getting older. There's lot of things you are going to miss. There's some things, maybe, you are glad you don't have to do any more.

"It's been a great ride and I've enjoyed every single minute of it. When I first start out as a player, moving into more of a leadership role and then the last four and half years being captain has been absolutely fantastic.

"It would have been great to go out with a series win, that's in a perfect world. But I'm very happy with what I've managed to achieve as a player and a captain You always feel like you want more but I have given a lot of myself to the shirt. There's a lot of sacrifice that's gone into into it. Not just myself, but other people. There's quite a few emotions knowing you're not going to be doing this anymore. There's sadness but a bit of excitement there today as well."